Citi and U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Digital Program

With the London 2012 Olympics touted as the ‘Digital Games’ it is easy to get excited about the launch of the new Citi and U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Program known as Every Step of the Way which supports our Next Generation of American Athletes.

Citi is the official sportsbiz bank sponsor of the 2012 U.S.Olympic and Paralympic teams. Citi launched this innovative digital program with a $500,000 donation to the U.S. Olympic Committee. This unique opportunity will fund U.S.Olympic and Paralympic Sport Programs in communities across America at Citi.com/everystep.

The goal of Citi was to find a social media driven connection with fans and customers that would help fund U.S.Olympic and Paralympic Sport Programs that have inspired Citi’s team of 13 athletes. Fans can now direct Citi’s entire donation via Facebook and Twitter. By creating this Program it becomes possible for customers and Olympic fans to further engage with the Games while helping a winning cause.

The Every Step of the Way programs $500,000 donation by Citi earned 50 million ThankYou® Points — the currency of Citi ThankYou® Rewards. Any Sports Techie can help allocate these ThankYou® Points to Sport Programs through your activity on Facebook and Twitter.

“We share in Citi’s excitement for its Every Step of the Way program,” said Lisa Baird, USOC chief marketing officer. “Citi has created a dynamic program that offers fans of the Olympic and Paralympic Games a meaningful way to connect with athletes. Citi’s contribution will leave a lasting impact with the next generation of U.S. hopefuls and athletes across the country.” 

Fans can donate on Citi’s Every Step of the Way Facebook page and at www.citi.com/everystep. For fans who accept the Every Step of the Way Facebook app, the software will match shared profile interests between fans and Team Citi athletes and suggest a member of Team Citi for the fan to follow, or fans can simply choose one they would like to support.

After selecting an athlete to support, fans through Facebook can help direct how the 50 million ThankYou Points are allocated through their activity on both Facebook and Twitter by using a #CitiEveryStep hashtag, replying to a tweet about the campaign with the hashtag or inviting friends to sign up. For each activity, ThankYou Points from Citi’s donation will be directed to the U.S.Olympic or Paralympic Sport Program specific to the fan’s Team Citi athlete.

The more a fan participates, the more ThankYou Points they can direct to the Sport Program until its goal is reached. At the end of the program, the USOC will use Citi’s donation to give the cash equivalent of the ThankYou Points directly to the Sport Program matched with the Team Citi athlete.

The Every Step of the Way program features the Team Citi athletes, some who are Sports Techie upon further review of the press release quoted throughout this blog. The 13 alumni, qualifiers and hopefuls represent an International range of sports: swimming, soccer, tennis, triathlon, gymnastics, track & field (Olympic/Paralympic) and sitting volleyball. These pioneering athletes were chosen by Citi because they exemplify the spirit and mission of the Digital program and have been inspired by their dedicated Sport Programs on their athletic journey.

Team Citi athletes can say a virtual “thank you” and hopefully, a deposit towards the Sport Programs that are truly at the core of their being.

Rowdy Gaines, Three-time Olympic gold medalist (1984), Swimming

Gaines is working with the USOC to help raise funds for a hyperoxic swimming lane that will allow athletes to train at varying altitudes. This focus certainly qualifies Rowdy as a Sports Techie.

“It is truly an honor to be a member of Team Citi with these 12 athletes,” said three-time Olympic gold medalist and Team Citi member Rowdy Gaines. “What I like most about what Citi is doing is the fact that they are so creative in trying to do something right for our athletes. To be able to take a $500,000 donation – which translates into 50 million ThankYou Points – to support these Sport Programs is phenomenal. The best part is the ability to connect with fans socially and truly make an impact.”

Cullen Jones, 2008 Olympic gold medalist, Swimming

After nearly drowning at the age of 5, Jones has spent years working with the USA Swimming Foundation’s Make a Splash Initiative and will help to raise funds to support saving lives through swimming lessons. Without the technology it takes to construct and maintain a pool, these lessons are not happening.

Dominique Dawes, Three-time Olympian; Olympic gold (1996) and bronze (1992, 1996, 2000) medalist, Gymnastics

Dawes is working with the USOC on the development of a Recovery Center with hot and cold plunge baths to assist in athlete recovery time. Try this Sports Techie because it works.

Bob and Mike Bryan, 2008 Olympic bronze medalists, Doubles Tennis The Bryan brothers are working with the National Recreation and Park Association’s Tennis in the Parks initiative, which provides fun resources including kid-sized tennis courts and rackets to learn about the game of tennis. Creating smaller sized courts or and products for children to play with is trending in other sports and a logical idea.

Gwen Jorgensen, 2012 U.S. Olympic Team qualifier, Triathlon

Jorgensen, a volunteer at Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee, will be working to expand the Clubs’ Bike Shop program, which is designed to give bicycles to children in the Greater Milwaukee area whose financial situation prevents them from owning one. This ought to be a worldwide law, Sports Techie.

Meb Keflezighi, 2012 U.S. Olympic Team qualifier; Two-time Olympian and 2004 Olympic silver medalist, Track & Field

After suffering from a hip injury in 2007, Keflezighi worked with the USOC Sport Performance division in Colorado Springs. He will help to raise funds for a Sport Performance fellowship position in sports psychology to help hopefuls in their preparation for competition. This fellowship will focus on cutting-edge technology and research in biofeedback, neural training and mental preparation. All things we believe in, Sports Techie.

Carlos Leon, 2008 Paralympian, Track & Field

Leon, a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, will help to raise funds for the Warrior Games, a U.S. Paralympic event that introduces Paralympic sports to injured service members and veterans. A movement Sports Techie supports whole hearted.

Danell Leyva, 2012 Olympic hopeful, Gymnastics

The youngest member of Team Citi and a 2012 men’s gymnastics hopeful, Leyva will help to raise funds for USA Gymnastics Future Stars to provide resources and equipment, such as pommel horses, parallel bars, rings and horizontal bars along with event logistical support. Leyva is a past participant in the program. I have presented Dartfish technology at a US Gymnastics Congress and understand the value and cost of sports products like these.

Amanda McGrory, 2008 Paralympic gold, silver and bronze medalist, Track & Field

McGrory will help to raise funds for the Great Lakes Adaptive Sports Association to increase outreach, education and programming to identify Paralympic hopefuls and to provide them with coaching and resources to help achieve their dreams. We love Paralympics and believe that sports technology helps thousands get closer to achieving their athletic dreams.

Kari Miller, 2008 Paralympic silver medalist, Sitting Volleyball

Miller, a former member of the U.S. Army, lost both her legs when her car was struck by a drunk driver. In 2008, she began working with the USOC’s Paralympic Military and Veteran Program and currently serves as a program ambassador. She will help to raise funds for the program, which introduces wounded servicemen and women to Paralympic sports. There is no better Sports Techie Paralympian role model than one someone who lives the dream.

Christie Rampone, Three-time Olympian; gold (2004, 2008) and silver (2000) medalist, Soccer

Rampone is supporting U.S. Soccer Foundation’s Soccer for Success.  Soccer for Success works with children (kindergarten through eighth grade) in underserved communities and provides free afterschool soccer programming three days a week for 24 weeks. Christie has a certified Sports Techie job and attitude.

Sanya Richards-Ross, Two-time Olympian: gold (2004, 2008) and bronze (2008) medalist, Track & Field

As one of the first athletes to participate in USA Track & Field’s Win With Integrity, Richards-Ross will help to raise funds to support Track in a Box kits for schools across the country.  Win With Integrity brings track and field athletes to schools to talk about the positive impact of hard work and the benefits of living a healthy, drug-free lifestyle. I coach the Redmond High school lacrosse team and relate to the strong message this Box kit sends.

Fast and easy ways to help direct a portion of the 50 million ThankYou Points include:

Facebook: After accepting the Facebook application, choose a Team Citi athlete to follow, invite friends to sign up or link your Twitter account to the Facebook application

Twitter:  After accepting the Facebook application and linking their account to Twitter, fans can help allocate points by sending a tweet using the hashtag #Citieverystep or #everystep.  They can also help allocate points through re-tweets and replies to other Twitter users with the hashtags.

Citi.com/everystep: On this website, fans can find out more information about the members of Team Citi and the various Sport Programs. Fans can also select an athlete to allocate 25 ThankYou Points toward the Sport Program that has inspired his or her journey and fans can also enter Citi’s sweepstakes for a chance to win a trip for two to cheer on TeamUSAfor four days and three nights to the London 2012 Olympic Games. 

Every Step of the Way mobile app: The app, which will launch in June, provides innovative ways for fans to support their athlete, reward the athlete’s chosen Sport Program and send messages of encouragement. Sports Techie looks forward to using this application.

Incentivized moments:  The Every Step of the Way program will offer various incentives to increase engagement with fans to allocate additional ThankYou Points or celebrate U.S Olympic and Paralympic milestones with extra point values. Be sure to follow our @sportstechieNET Twitter name for additional coverage.

That is just the start. The Every Step of the Way program also allows fans to make their own contributions, including:

ThankYou.com: Starting on April 16, Citi ThankYou members can redeem their personal Citi ThankYou Points to do even more to support these programs. Each of these Sport Programs is a reward option through Citi ThankYou Rewards and additional information can be found at www.ThankYou.com/everystep.

Direct cash contribution: Fans can donate directly to the USOC or the Sport Program chosen by a Team Citi athlete via a link to the USOC on the Every Step Facebook page or Citi/com/everystep.

About Citi:

Citi, the leading global bank, has approximately 200 million customer accounts and does business in more than 160 countries and jurisdictions. Citi provides consumers, corporations, governments and institutions with a broad range of financial products and services, including consumer banking and credit, corporate and investment banking, securities brokerage, transaction services, and wealth management. *Citi’s USOC sponsorship and media rights include U.S. corporate and investment banking, retail banking and commercial banking.

Additional information may be found at www.citigroup.com | Twitter: @CitiEveryStep | YouTube: www.youtube.com/citi | Blog: http://new.citi.com | Facebook: www.facebook.com/citi | LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/citi

About the USOC

Founded in 1894 and headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colo., the U.S. Olympic Committee serves as both the National Olympic Committee and National Paralympic Committee for the United States. As such, the USOC is responsible for the training, entering and funding of U.S.teams for the Olympic, Paralympic, Youth Olympic, Pan American and Parapan American Games, while serving as a steward of the Olympic and Paralympic Movements throughout the country. For more information, visit TeamUSA.org.

Sports Techie, from saving lives through swimming lessons to providing coaching and equipment for Paralympians, the Every Step of the Way program will have a lasting impact with athletes of all abilities in communities across America.

Citi’s Every Step of the Way program will include television and digital advertising, events and promotional sportsbiz opportunities. Television advertisements will debut in mid-May featuring members of Team Citi, and in-market events will be held in retail branches across the U.S.with Team Citi athletes.

Time to go online with your new or old mobile smartphone, tablet, PC or Mac, and join this wonderful initiative, Sports Techie. Hopefully, you can identify with the 13 Olympian or Paralympians in terms of why they play the game, and also with what is at stake for sports programs that touch you and are connected to others we know.

Be sure to enter Citi’s sweepstakes at Citi.com/everystep for a chance to win a trip for two to cheer on TeamUSA for four days and three nights to the London 2012 Olympic Games. Best wishes to the Citi athletes and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic sport teams on your historical and engaging social media campaign.

I will see ya when I see ya, Sports Techie

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